“Before I joined Health Rights Defenders, I didn’t know other young people felt the same way I did about hospitals, appointments and having a health condition. Now I know I’m not alone, and together we’re helping other children understand their rights too.” — Health Rights Defender.
For children and young people living with health conditions, friendship can be life-changing. Friendship means finding people who understand. It means knowing you’re not alone. It means having a safe space where your experiences matter, your voice is valued and you can work together to create change.
That is exactly what our Health Rights Defenders have created.
Our Health Rights Defenders are a passionate group of children and young people aged 9–17 from across Scotland who are living with long-term health conditions and disabilities. Officially formed in 2023, they came together with a shared mission: to create a future where health rights are not only recognised but understood by children, for children. Today, they are helping to shape the future of children’s healthcare in Scotland.
Friendship Creates Confidence
This year’s #BeFriendly Friday is all about celebrating the power of positive relationships, and friendship has become one of the most important parts of the Health Rights Defenders journey.
Many young people join because they want to make a difference. What they often discover along the way is a community of peers who understand the realities of living with a health condition.
As one Health Rights Defender explained:
Health Rights Defenders feels like a place where everyone understands. We all have different experiences, but we support each other and listen to each other. I’ve made friends who understand what it’s like to live with a health condition.”
Together, they have built a supportive network where young people encourage one another, share experiences and grow in confidence. That confidence is helping them become advocates, campaigners and leaders in children’s health rights.
From Lived Experience to Change
Our Health Rights Defenders aren’t just talking about change — they’re creating it.
Their experiences helped shape our My Health, My Rights Charter, a child-friendly resource inspired by the UNCRC and the EACH Charter that helps children understand their health rights and encourages professionals to place children’s voices at the centre of healthcare.
One young person reflected:
Being part of creating the My Health, My Rights Charter made me realise that children should be involved in decisions about health. We know what it’s like to live with our conditions every day..
Over the last year, our Health Rights Defenders have contributed to national consultations, informed policy discussions, helped create resources, shaped professional training and worked with organisations across Scotland to ensure children’s voices are heard.
Working with the Children’s Commissioner
As part of this year’s#BeFriendly Friday celebrations, we are delighted to recognise our partnership with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS).
Over the past year, our Health Rights Defenders have worked closely with the Commissioner’s Office and Media Education to explore the realities of being a child or young person living with a health condition in Scotland and the impact this can have on education and wellbeing. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING HERE.
For many participants, it was a powerful experience.
Working with the Commissioner showed me that adults really can listen to young people and take our ideas seriously. It made me feel like my experiences could help make things better for other children.
This partnership has demonstrated the importance of listening to children and young people as experts in their own lives and ensuring their voices influence decisions that affect them.
#WaitingOnOurRights
During Scottish Children’s Health Week 2025, our Health Rights Defenders launched their powerful stop-motion film #WaitingOnOurRights, sharing the experiences of children and young people waiting for healthcare support.
The project gave young people a platform to explain what waiting feels like and why children’s voices must be part of conversations about healthcare improvement.
As one Health Rights Defender explained:
The film helped us tell people what it actually feels like to be waiting for support. We wanted decision-makers to hear directly from children and young people because sometimes statistics don’t tell the whole story.
Their message was clear: children deserve to be heard, informed and supported while waiting for care.
We Are the Health Rights Defenders
As Children’s Health Scotland prepares to celebrate its 50th Birthday on 2 October, our Health Rights Defenders are preparing for a very special moment too. the My Health, My Rights Conference on 2 October, we will proudly launch:
We Are the Health Rights Defenders
Created by our Health Rights Defenders in partnership with Media Education, this exciting new film tells the story of who they are, what they stand for and why children’s health rights matter.
Throughout the project, young people have been involved in shaping the creative direction, sharing their experiences and ensuring the final film truly reflects their voices.
One Health Rights Defender said:
We wanted this film to show people who we really are. We’re not just children with health conditions. We’re campaigners, friends, creators and changemakers. We want other children to know they have rights and that their voices matter.
We are incredibly grateful to National Lottery Awards for All for supporting this project and helping us amplify the voices of children and young people through creative storytelling.
Thank You to The National Lottery
The achievements of our Health Rights Defenders would not be possible without the continued support of The National Lottery.
Thanks to Young Start, our Health Rights Defenders have been able to meet regularly, build friendships, develop confidence, learn new skills and influence positive change across Scotland. The programme has given children and young people opportunities to speak up, shape projects and become champions for children’s health rights.
We are also incredibly thankful to National Lottery Awards for All, whose funding has supported the development of We Are the Health Rights Defenders and created opportunities for young people to use film and media to share their experiences with wider audiences.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 50 years of Children’s Health Scotland and look towards the future, our Health Rights Defenders continue to inspire us every day.
Their friendship, determination and commitment to children’s rights are helping shape a Scotland where every child feels heard, respected and empowered.
As one Health Rights Defender put it:
We’re called Health Rights Defenders because we’re standing up for children and young people’s rights. We want every child to know they deserve to be listened to, respected and involved in their healthcare.”
Rhianne Forrest, Officer at Children’s Health Scotland, said:
“The Health Rights Defenders continually inspire me with their passion, creativity and determination to make healthcare better for children and young people across Scotland. Every time they share their experiences, speak at events, contribute to campaigns or help shape resources, they are defending every child’s right to the best possible health. Listening to children isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s how meaningful change happens. Their voices have shaped the My Health, My Rights Charter, influenced professionals and policymakers, and helped other children understand their rights. I would like to thank Young Start and Awards for All from The National Lottery for believing in the power of young people and making this work possible. Most importantly, thank you to our incredible Health Rights Defenders who generously give their time, energy and lived experience to help create a Scotland where every child feels heard, respected and included. We are so proud of everything they have achieved and can’t wait to celebrate them and premiere We Are the Health Rights Defenders at our My Health, My Rights Conference on 2 October as part of Children’s Health Scotland’s 50th anniversary celebrations.”
And as Michelle Wilson, Head of Children & Young People’s Services, reminds us:
When we truly listen to children and young people, especially those living with health conditions, we don’t just hear their stories—we hand them the tools to shape their own futures. The Health Rights Defenders are a shining example of what happens when young voices are not only heard but respected.
This #BeFriendly Friday, we celebrate every Health Rights Defender who has shared their story, supported a friend, challenged assumptions and helped create a better future for children and young people across Scotland.
You are not just defending health rights. You are leading the way. 💜
Do you want to work with our Health Rights Defenders? Then you can email Rhianne on CYPHRS@childrenshealthscotland.org
HEALTH RIGHTS DEFENDERS IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
